Parent Pathway to job success celebrates first anniversary

Thousands of parents and carers across Australia have benefitted from the Albanese Labor Government’s tailored support program “Parent Pathways”, which links participants to education opportunities and a way into the job market.

Celebrating its first anniversary this month, Parent Pathways provides personalised pre-employment support to eligible parents and carers of children aged under six years. The program enables them to achieve their education, employment and career goals, while keeping their family front and centre.

Program supports include career guidance and funds for training. The program assists families with early childhood education and care, financial help with textbooks and computers, referrals to financial information services, and language or literacy programs.

Parent Pathways is exceeding expectations across the country, with almost 27,000 parents and carers voluntarily engaging with the service in its first year.

So far, almost 900 parents and carers have exited the program to paid employment and more than 9,000 have commenced education and are on the path to secure work.

For more information, see the Parent Pathways website.

Quotes attributable to the Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations Amanda Rishworth:

“We’re thrilled the Parent Pathways service has proven such a success in its first year.”

“Parents told our government they wanted more choice, flexibility and tailored support – and our new Parent Pathways program is delivering that”

“The success of Parent Pathways is a powerful example of how valuing parents’ caring role and giving parents flexibility to engage with the program on their terms, and in ways that fit around their family life, is achieving outcomes.”

“The program is helping to provide choice and empower parents, particularly women, to achieve their potential”.

Quotes attributable to the Assistant Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations Patrick Gorman:

“Parent Pathways is all about parents and carers and their individual needs, providing the necessary support to help them achieve their study or work goals.

”Voluntary programs thrive when services are well-designed, responsive to people’s needs and delivered in a trustworthy and safe environment.

“The growth of the service is a clear sign of its value and need in our communities”.